Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz was unhurt when his motorcade crashed in Milwaukee. The cars involved in the collision reportedly carried reporters and were situated at the rear of Governor Walz’s vehicular entourage. Journalists were “violently thrown forward” during the incident when one car smashed into the vehicle in front. One person sustained a broken arm, and officials say they are unclear what caused the collision.
Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly called her running mate to check on his well-being, as did President Joe Biden. Mr. Walz addressed the accident at a subsequent rally to mark Labor Day and stated, “I’m relieved to say that with a few minor injuries, everybody’s going to be okay.” The Minnesota Governor thanked the US Secret Service and local officials for quickly responding to the crash. Mr. Walz’s rival, Republican Ohio Senator JD Vance, took to Twitter and wrote, “Hoping everyone’s ok.”
With the accident behind him, Governor Walz rallied union members in Milwaukee during his first visit to the battleground state of Wisconsin. Mr. Walz told his audience that union workers built America and announced that a Harris administration would be the most pro-union in US history. “When unions are strong, America is strong,” he declared. Responding to accusations that he is in the pocket of unions, Governor Walz said, “That’s a damn lie. I am the pocket.”
The Minnesota Governor was greeted by an enthusiastic union crowd, revealing a sharp contrast with counterpart JD Vance, who faced boos when he spoke to a firefighters’ union in Boston. Vance described the Trump campaign as the most pro-union Republican ticket in history, but the crowd did not appear to agree. The Senator spoke to firefighters’ union members just one day after Mr. Walz had addressed them with what analysts describe as a far more positive tone.
The Harris campaign has secured the endorsement of the United Auto Workers, United Steelworkers, the Service Employees International Union, and the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees.
Meanwhile, The Milwaukee Police Association and the International Union of Police Associations have endorsed Mr. Trump. Some unions, including Teamsters, have not yet offered any endorsement. Teamsters leader Sean O’Brien recently told reporters that the union is split almost equally between Democrats and Republicans, and endorsement decisions must be made cautiously. Nevertheless, analysts note that the union – one of the largest in America with 1.3 million members – has not backed a Republican Presidential candidate since 1988.
